West Perth Facility Manager Rick Vivian explained to council June 26 that there have been recent examples of individuals or groups turning a blind eye to raffles that are illegal during buck and doe dances held at the Mitchell & District Arena.

The provincial liquor inspector attended a recent buck and doe and although rules for liquor sales have been streamlined and mostly adhered to, games of chance such as 50/50 draws or raffles are happening despite warnings that they are illegal. He noticed the illegal activity and told the group hosting the buck and doe to stop.

Arena staff also try and let the renters know the rules ahead of time, yet some are still choosing to ignore the rules and run the risk of heavy fines under the Criminal Code.

Vivian said people who host buck and doe fundraisers are given the conditions laid out in the arena contract and the municipality’s policy and procedures guidelines plus they are sent a direct memo that they cannot run 50/50 draws and raffles of any kind. He added that groups are also given what they can legally run and how to run them but quite often they fall back to the traditional draws.

“The whole point of it is, there’s a whole lot of people out there that think it’s our rules, or Mitchell rules, or West Perth’s,” Vivian said. “They aren’t getting the message that it is illegal to run 50/50 draws, raffles and whatever else.

“Word is not getting out to the general public,” he added.

Vivian said the liquor inspector has the authority to lay charges but he has chosen not to, just wanting municipal employees to be more vigilant when dealing with these situations.

On the same night he appeared at this specific buck and doe, for example, he told Vivian that of the eight he planned to attend that evening, he guessed seven would be out of compliance with respect to gaming issues, so West Perth is not alone.

Clerk Carla Preston said municipal office staff have tried to be proactive with various groups and organizations informing them of any illegal games of chance, and are doing it to help not hinder the process.

“No matter where you are, educating is the most difficult,” Preston said at council, adding people are finding it “really tough to wrap your head around” that such illegal games of chance is considered racketeering under the Criminal Code and people could be fined.

West Perth municipal staff have reached out to various non-profit service groups and organizations, such as Mitchell Minor Sports, explaining what they can and cannot do in terms of upcoming hockey and ringette tournaments, for example.

“There will be some more educational pieces coming out, but it’s a work in progress,” Preston said, adding that if any community groups have any questions at all to not hesitate to contact the clerk’s office.

Meanwhile, the Perth District Health Unit has reminded all residents of the amendments that were made to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act in January 2015, which ban smoking on bar and restaurant patios. This includes temporary patio seating, such as picnic tables, that are set-up near food trucks and concession stands during special events.

It is also illegal to smoke within 20-metres of publicly-owned sports fields, adjacent spectator areas and children’s playgrounds, something that smokers tend to forget. With minor baseball and soccer seasons well underway this summer, smokers are reminded that they need to keep away at least 20-metres. New signs have been erected at both Keterson and Kinsman parks reminding smokers of the legislation, Vivian said.

Joel Skelding, of the PDHU tobacco enforcement department, said the health unit is making an effort to travel around the county ensuring signs are up and residents are aware of the legislation.